Lost a weight pouch, Dang It!

[ScubaSteve2000]

I dive with an older Sherwood Outback BC with the velcro type weight pouches. Well, one fell out last Saturday during a dive and I couldn't find it. I was a bit busy at the time trying to avoid an uncontrolled ascent. I learned really fast what a 10# rock looked like.

So here are the horns of my delima. I can replace the weight pouch and be done with it. My only concern is that there was no indication the velcro connection on the old weight pouch was going to fail. The pouch showing the most wear wasn't the one that fell out. Why wouldn't the new one fall out as well? There isn't a good way to tell if the "hooks" side (inside the BC where the pouches go) wasn't the problem. For what I am going to have to spend to replace the pouch I'm considering other options. Besides, installing the pouches is a REAL PITA.

I can go to a weight belt. Problem: I have all soft weights so I'll have to get the individual pouches. Advantage: If I have to remove my BC during a dive the weight will stay with me. I also have to see how my BC cumberbun will fit with the weight belt.

I can re-configure my BC to take "normal" weight pouches. Problem: Sherwood doesn't make a kit for that. Their "cousin" company, Genisis has a BC that looks suspiciously like the Outback. Maybe I can get new cumberbun pieces from them? How pricey will that be?
Advantage: I can go to a clip retention system instead of velcro...maybe.

I can adios the Sherwood straps, keep the "um-backplate" and jin up a hog harness. Hey, I have to something while I'm not diving, right? Somehow that sounds like a deep dark rabbit hole.

Okay. I appeal to the combined wisdom of the SB community. I wasn't able to go diving this weekend anyway. (Something about a holiday my girlfriend is interested in.) A 14 day surface interval is pushing my limits for CGW (compressed gas withdrawals) so I'm hoping to get some good ideas from the folks over the next week.

I'm leaning toward a weight belt right now. It seems like the easiest route.

Thanks,

Steve.

 

[rstofer]

In my opinion, integrated weight systems are evil. And your ascent is the reason.

I prefer the DUI Weight & Trim Classic harness. You can reuse your soft weights, the pockets won't self-eject, it's intuitively obvious to the most casual observer how to dump the weights and the harness is comfotable.

DUI - Weight & Trim Systems

With the Classic you have the ability to move the pockets fore and aft. With the W&T II, you don't.

Not the lowest price I have seen but: DUI Weight and Trim Classic reviews and discounts, DUI

Richard

 

[rongoodman]

If you're going to have a weight belt, the XS Scuba version with the pockets seems to be the way to go. You can dump just part of your weight if you need to. How much ditchable weight are you carrying? For just a few pounds, the DUI harness is an expensive solution.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

LOL, "some holiday my girfriend is interested in" I love it.

I would just go to a regular weightbelt and be done with it.
You can get one of those spring loaded depth compensating buckles that tridents sells and use that with the regular tough nylon webbing. You can't go wrong.

 

[J.R.]

... wow... talk about getting your problems solved before ya' ask.

Last two weekends were "ice dive" weekends... the first one I borrowed the instructor's 16 lb soft weight belt... which, when coupled with the 16 lbs in the BC made life pretty darned good... the second weekend I used a pouch belt... which wasn't so good.

Even though I used the ol' "double buckle" I discovered, much to my frustration, that not having hips doesn't encourage the ol' pouch belt to stay on your body... the buckles held... but the belt kinda' did this slipping down around my knees... which made swimming a bit of a challenge.

I've been thinking about this and realized that some sort of harness system would be ideal... and WHATTCHA' KNOW... here it is... DUI's system looks fantastic... now... that that's little situation is getting resolved... time to find some more ice...

THANKS for the question and the responses... (I'll have to check out the XS system too... sounds promising as well...)

 

[J.R.]

... how ironic... a friend of mine just sent me this as another alternative...

Tech Weight Harness

 

[RonFrank]

The XS solution is here

I use this weight belt, and as weight belts go it's very good. I think the DUI harness is MUCH nicer, but it's also 4X the cost. I've seen one in person.... very nice... a bit pricey.

 

[BDSC]

Sounds like it's time for a new BC to me and if you have been looking for a reason to buy some new gear now you have it. Just get a WI BC where the weight pouches clip in instead. My Scubapro BC is this way and so is my buddies. We probably have 400 to 450 dives between us with them and have never had an issue.

Weight belts can be dangerous and could easily kill you!

 

[LIVES4SHARKS]

I had the same problem with my first BC which had velco pouches. Being a total newb I had no clue in BC setups. The clipped in integrated weights are much safer because of that reason. After about 30 dives I switched to the BP/W with a standard weightbelt and have had no trouble whatsoever. I also have a SS BP I dont need any weights in fresh water and just a few lbs on my weightbelt in SW. Since I have the Hog Harness with crotch strap, I have never lost my weightbelt.


Carolyn:shark2:

 

[ZzzKing]

Sounds like it's time for a new BC to me and if you have been looking for a reason to buy some new gear now you have it. Just get a WI BC where the weight pouches clip in instead. My Scubapro BC is this way and so is my buddies. We probably have 400 to 450 dives between us with them and have never had an issue.

Weight belts can be dangerous and could easily kill you!

You're kidding, right? Do they kill by sneaking up behind you and cutting your air hose?

If I were you, I'd get a belt and replace the soft weights and be done with it. It's cheaper than the various harnesses and you can sell the soft weights to some unsuspecting newbie and recover some of the cost. Or you can do like I do and use them to weight down the corners of your ground tarp.

That frees you from having to buy a weight integrated BC in the future too.